His Grace [[Bishop]] '''Vasily (Shuan) of Beijing''' was the first ruling [[bishop]] of the Autonomous Chinese Orthodox Church.

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His Grace [[Bishop]] '''Basil (Shuan) of Beijing''' was the first ruling [[bishop]] of the [[Chinese Orthodox Church|Chinese Autonomous Orthodox Church]].

==Biography==

==Biography==

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Ignaty Shuan, the future bishop, was born in Beijing on [[December 23]], 1888. Little is known about his early life. He later completed theological [[seminary]] at the Spiritual Mission, Beijing, and was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] on [[May 11]], 1915, by Bishop Innokenty (Figurovsky).

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Ignaty Shuang, the future bishop, was born in Beijing on [[December 23]], 1888. Little is known about his early life. He later completed theological [[seminary]] at the [[Russian Orthodox Mission in China|Spiritual Mission]], Beijing, and was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] on [[May 11]], 1915, by Bishop [[Innocent (Figurovsky) of Beijing|Innocent (Figurovsky)]].

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Dcn Ignaty, after 33 years serving as a [[deacon]], was ordained in 1948 to the [[priest]]hood. On [[August 30]] of that year, he was also [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Vasily. Hmk Vasily was then elevated to [[Igumen|Hegumen]] and was appointed spiritual director of Holy Dormition Monastery and Holy Protection Monastery, a male and female monastery (respectively).

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Dcn Ignaty, after 33 years serving as a [[deacon]], was ordained in 1948 to the [[priest]]hood.

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In July 1950, Hegumen Vasily was elevated to [[archimandrite]], and in December of the same year, Archimandrite Vasily was appointed director of the Catechetical School of the Mission, in addition to being made a member of the administration of the East-Asian Exarchate.

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On [[August 30]] of that year, he was also [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Basil. Hmk Vasily was then elevated to [[Igumen|Hegumen]] and was appointed spiritual director of Holy Dormition Monastery and Holy Protection Monastery, a male and female monastery, respectively.

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Greater honour was to come to Archimandrite Vasily when, in 1951, Patriarch Alexy offered Archim. Vasily the bishopric of Tianjin, but this was declined by Archim. Vasily, who gave the reasons of unworthiness and infirmity (being 69 years old). At this point, Archimandrite Vasily was the dean of the Holy Dormition [[Cathedral]], Beijing, and was temporary administrator of the diocese of Beijing. In February of this year, Archim. Vasily was appointed a member of the Council of the Spiritual Mission.

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In July 1950, Hegumen Basil was elevated to [[archimandrite]], and in December of the same year, Archimandrite Vasily was appointed director of the Catechetical School of the Mission, in addition to being made a member of the administration of the East-Asian Exarchate.

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However, the episcopacy was not to be denied. On [[May 17]], 1957, Archimandrite Vasily was consecrated Bishop of Beijing in the Holy Transfiguration church, Moscow, by Metr. Nikolai of Krutitsk and Kolomensk, Abp. Victor of Krasnodar and Kuban, and Abp. Makary of Mozhaisk.

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Greater honour was to come to Archimandrite Vasily when, in 1951, Patriarch [[Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow|Alexius I]] offered Archim. Basil the bishopric of Tianjin, but this was declined by Archim. Vasily, who gave the reasons of unworthiness and infirmity (being 69 years old). At this point, Archimandrite Basil was the dean of the Holy Dormition [[Cathedral]], Beijing, and was temporary administrator of the [[Diocese]] of Beijing. In February of this year, Archim. Vasily was appointed a member of the Council of the Spiritual Mission.

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The first head of the Autonomous Chinese Orthodox Church was not to rule this post very long. On [[January 3]], 1962, Bp. Vasily reposed, with no successor.

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As a result of political agreements, during 1956, between the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union, all foreign members of the church in China were required to leave the country. Implementing this political edict the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Russia, on [[November 23]], 1956, granted autonomy to the Church of China. With agreement of the government of the People’s Republic of China, Arch. Basil was consecrated Bishop of Beijing on [[May 30]], 1957 at the Transfiguration Cathedral in Moscow by Metropolitan [[Nicholas (Yarushevich) of Krutitsy|Nicholas of Krutitsy and Kolomna]], Archbishop [[Victor (Svyatin) of Krasnodar and Kuban|Victor of Krasnodar and Kuban]] (who was the last head of the Russian Mission to China), and Archbishop Makarius of Mozhiak.

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Bp. Vasily reposed on [[January 3]], 1962. He was not succeeded due to the anti-Orthodox Christian position of the Chinese government and the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution in 1960s.

{{start box}}

{{start box}}

{{succession|

{{succession|

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before=unknown|

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before=[[Victor (Svyatin) of Krasnodar and Kuban|Victor (Svyatin)]]|

title=Bishop of Beijing|

title=Bishop of Beijing|

years=1957-1962|

years=1957-1962|

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after=''none as yet''}}

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after=''see vacant''}}

{{end box}}

{{end box}}

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==External Links==

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==External link==

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[http://orthodox.cn/localchurch/beijing/basil_en.htm Biography] on Orthodoxy in China.

Dcn Ignaty, after 33 years serving as a deacon, was ordained in 1948 to the priesthood.

On August 30 of that year, he was also tonsured a monk with the name Basil. Hmk Vasily was then elevated to Hegumen and was appointed spiritual director of Holy Dormition Monastery and Holy Protection Monastery, a male and female monastery, respectively.

In July 1950, Hegumen Basil was elevated to archimandrite, and in December of the same year, Archimandrite Vasily was appointed director of the Catechetical School of the Mission, in addition to being made a member of the administration of the East-Asian Exarchate.

Greater honour was to come to Archimandrite Vasily when, in 1951, Patriarch Alexius I offered Archim. Basil the bishopric of Tianjin, but this was declined by Archim. Vasily, who gave the reasons of unworthiness and infirmity (being 69 years old). At this point, Archimandrite Basil was the dean of the Holy Dormition Cathedral, Beijing, and was temporary administrator of the Diocese of Beijing. In February of this year, Archim. Vasily was appointed a member of the Council of the Spiritual Mission.

As a result of political agreements, during 1956, between the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union, all foreign members of the church in China were required to leave the country. Implementing this political edict the Holy Synod of the Church of Russia, on November 23, 1956, granted autonomy to the Church of China. With agreement of the government of the People’s Republic of China, Arch. Basil was consecrated Bishop of Beijing on May 30, 1957 at the Transfiguration Cathedral in Moscow by Metropolitan Nicholas of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Archbishop Victor of Krasnodar and Kuban (who was the last head of the Russian Mission to China), and Archbishop Makarius of Mozhiak.

Bp. Vasily reposed on January 3, 1962. He was not succeeded due to the anti-Orthodox Christian position of the Chinese government and the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution in 1960s.